In their season opener on Friday night, the Kansas Jayhawks delivered a commanding performance, defeating Long Island University (LIU) with a score of 51-6. Quarterback Isaiah Marshall led the charge, throwing for 246 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Yasin Willis made an impressive debut with 72 rushing yards and two touchdowns of his own.
The Jayhawks, who were heavily favored, initially struggled to find their rhythm, managing only a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter. However, as the game progressed, they began to assert their dominance. Coach Lance Leipold acknowledged the pressure that comes with being favored, noting that expectations can lead to early frustrations. "Games like this that you’re heavily favored, I think everyone wants you to score one touchdown right away that’s worth like, 30 points," Leipold explained. "We continued to play well and persevered, and I thought we really took over in the second quarter, got in a good rhythm and kind of took it from there."
With the return of former offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who had a brief stint at Penn State, the Jayhawks showcased a potent offensive strategy, amassing a total of 613 yards. Buffalo transfer Nik McMillan emerged as a key target, catching six passes for 130 yards and scoring a touchdown. Additionally, Tate Nagy contributed to the scoring with a touchdown catch in the second half, further solidifying Kansas's lead.
On the other side, LIU struggled to find their footing. Quarterback Luca Stanzani managed to throw for 111 yards but was unable to lead his team to any significant offensive success. The Sharks' leading rusher, Stanzani, only gained 20 yards, highlighting the challenges they faced against a robust Kansas defense.
Marshall, who won the starting quarterback position over Cole Ballard, took over the reins from Jalon Daniels, who had been a staple of the Jayhawks' offense for the past six seasons. Daniels was present at the game, having recently secured a backup role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite a shaky start, Marshall quickly found his rhythm, connecting on key passes that opened up the offense. His first major connection was a 46-yard pass to McMillan, which set up Willis's second touchdown run, extending the lead to 16-0.
As the game progressed, Kansas continued to build on their lead, with Marshall's passing game proving crucial. A 47-yard throw to Nahzae Cox positioned Jalen Dupree for a touchdown, followed by a 19-yard touchdown pass to McMillan, which sent the Jayhawks into halftime with a commanding 30-0 advantage. By the end of the game, LIU had only managed 146 total yards, a stark contrast to Kansas's offensive output.
Leipold expressed satisfaction with the team's depth, noting that 86 players participated in the game. "To get that many guys in, guys that put in as much work as the starters, do a lot of things for this program, do what’s asked, many paying their own way, it’s great to do," he remarked.
The Jayhawks' victory against LIU sets the stage for a significant matchup against their longtime rival, the Missouri Tigers, who come into the game fresh off a 54-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. This upcoming game marks the first meeting between the two teams since October 29, 2005, and promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Meanwhile, LIU will return home to face Albany on September 12, aiming to bounce back from their tough start to the season.
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